Police: Man grabbed boy at zoo

Amarillo police are looking for a man whom they say grabbed an elementary school boy and may have approached two girls at the Amarillo Zoo on Tuesday morning.

A male elementary school student told police that he became separated from his school group at the zoo.

As he ran to catch up, a man grabbed the boy, according to police reports.

The man asked the child if he knew anyone at the zoo, then tried to pull the boy with him.

The boy was able to wiggle himself free of the man's grip, and the man left for an exit. The boy told a friend what happened and the friend reported the incident to school officials, reports show.

Police later determined that the same man may have approached two girls in the zoo prior to grabbing the boy.

The man is described as a potbellied Hispanic male who is about 6 feet tall with a heavy build and short black hair. The man was wearing a black T-shirt and tan shorts, police said.

Amarillo Police Cpl. Jerry Neufeld said Tuesday's incident provides the perfect time for parents to review safety with their children.

The elementary school students visiting Thompson Park on Tuesday had a "buddy system," which paired them off for safety reasons and is always a good idea for large groups of kids, he said.

"There's strength in numbers and that even goes for kids," Neufeld said.

Children should also do whatever they can - scream, yell, kick - to attract attention if they are grabbed or threatened by a stranger, Neufeld said.

The man in Tuesday's incident was a stranger, but Neufeld said the same tips apply to people children may know.

"Your child should not go with anyone that the parent did not specifically give permission to do so," Neufeld said. "The number of children who are abused and molested by someone they know is staggering."